Means for securing roundels in semaphore-signals.



E. J. RELPH. MEANS FOR SEGURIN G ROUNDELS IN SEMAPHORE SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED 1111,1112, 1909.

992,062. Patented May 9, 1911.

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U TE @TATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. RELPH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 GUILFORD S. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR SECURING ROUNDELS IN SEMAPI-IORE-SIGNALS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. RELPH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Securing Roundels in Semaphore- Signals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the various types of semaphore railway signals roundels or round plates of glass are secured on the semaphore arm in such position that at night the position of the arm is indicated by the color of the signal light, the color, being, of course, changed or varied dependent upon the color of the roundel of glass positioned opposite the light by the adjustment of the arm. I-Ieretofore such roundels have sometimes been set in putty. The vibration due to passing traffic, however, and also to the constant movements of the arm soon results in loosening the roundel resulting inevitably in breakage and where such breakage occurs a false signal may be given, thus endangering the public.

The object of this invention is to afford a resilient support for roundels by the use of which the roundel is firmly held in place and can never, under any circumstances be injured or affected by the vibration of either traffic or the normal operation of the signal.

It is, of course, also an object of the invention to economize in the expense by re ducing the expense of renewals and repairs.

It is also an important object of the invention to afford a resilient and binding support for roundels whereby the same are positively engaged in place at all times and whereby vibration is absorbed and the use of which permits the quick renewal or replacement when desired.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a semaphore signal. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the engaging clips. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the roundels showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 12, 1909.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Serial No. 507,238.

the clips engaged in place. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the clip shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings: 1, indicates the semaphore arm, 2, the lamp or lantern, 3, the red roundel, and 4, the green roundel, said roundels being attached to the semaphore arm 1, in such a manner that when the arm is supported as shown in Fig. 1, the red or danger signal is shown at the roundel by the light shining therethrough and when the arm drops to clear position the green roundel t, is elevated in front of the lamp. Each of said roundels is set in a suitable recess in the spectacle frame 5, which carries both roundels and which. of course, is aperturcd to permit the light to shine therethrough. As shown also, a metallic annular plate 6, is secured to hold said roundel in place when secured in said recess, as shown in Fig. 2.

Clipped onto the edges of each of the roundels at a plurality of points (three is suflicient. as shown in Fig. 4), are rubber or other suitable resilient clips 7. These, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, are rubber channels molded in short lengths and the flanges of which incline inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the roundel is engaged in place the same will be supported at a plurality of points from contact with the spectacle frame therefor and thereby preventing injury thereto.

The operation is obvious from the construction described. Inasmuch as the roundel is supported free from contact with any other substance or material other than the resilient clips, it follows that neither the movement of the semaphore arm nor vibration of any kind or nature can affect or injure the same. The resiliency of the rubber clips exerts a yielding pressure on the glass at all times. This in itself centralizes the glass at all times in the frame and is a great protection therefor tending to lessen the shock even though the roundel should be struck with some foreign object, as some times occurs.

Of course, but one size of the clip is necessary, as owing to the construction of the clip the same size may be used on any of several sizes of roundels, and while I have suggested that three of such clips are sufficient ordinarily, where the roundels are very large a greater number of clips may, of course, be used.

Of course, I am aware that details of the construction may be varied, and I therefore do not purpose limiting myself otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with a semaphore arm, and a spectacle frame therefor, of roundels fitted in said frame, clips consisting each of a narrow channel of rubber having straight faced flanges inclining inwardly, engaging at intervals the periphery of each roundel and holding the same at all pointsyieldingly out of contact with any portion of the frame, and means for retaining the roundel and its clips in position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD J. RELPH. l/Vitnesses K. E. HANNAH, J. W. ANGELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

